Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets PM Modi, seeks urgent clearances for two irrigation projects

In the meeting in Parliament complex, Siddarmaiah pressed for several key interventions focusing on critical areas, including agriculture, water resources and urban infrastructure.

New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured to look into list of demands submitted by Karnataka including enhancing grant under NABARD.

The CM along with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar met the PM here and submitted a memorandum.

Energy Minister K J George and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh also accompanied the CM.

"We held detailed discussion on the memorandum. The PM assured us to look into the issues raised by the state," the CM told reporters after the meeting.

The CM in a memorandum submitted said, Short Term Agricultural Credit Limit to Karnataka by the NABARD sanctioned only Rs 2,340 crore for the current year (2024-25), against Rs 5600 crore of limit sanctioned during 2023-24, which is a steep cut of 58 per cent. This will seriously impact the cost of finance for farmers, unless the state steps in to provide additional interest subvention which will severely impact the finances.

The CM also requested the PM to sanction Rs 5,300 crore for Upper Bhadra Project under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme.

On two projects - the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir on Kaveri river and the Kalasa-Bandhuri project on Mahadayi river, the CM sought intervention of the PM for getting approval from the Jal Shakti Ministry as well as the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Siddaramaiah requested the PM to sanction Rs 10,000 crore for these cities under AMRUT or any other schemes to upgrade infrastructure in Bengaluru and Tire-2 cities of Karnataka.

The CM also sought the PM's intervention to get Rs 5,495 crore to compensate for the reduction in the share in 15th Finance Commission and sanction a special grant of Rs 6000 crore for Peripheral Ring Road and for rejuvenation of water bodies.

The CM also said that the Ministry of Finance must make sure that in future states contributing a larger share to the central taxes are not punished by severe cut in share of the central taxes.